More Than 250 Attend Hartford Pro-Syrian Refugee Acceptance Rally

"We have to stop victimizing the victims." More than 250 attend Hartford pro-Syrian refugee rally

HARTFORD — Standing under a "Fear Not" sign, Nour Alfares said she and her family wanted to show the city the true face of a Syrian refugee.

Alfares, who lives in New Britain, was one of about 250 people at a state Capitol rally in the rain on Saturday to welcome Syrian refugees into the United States. Alfares said she came to the U.S. from Syria in 2010.

"I feel like we have to stop victimizing the victims," Alfares said. "Our hearts and prayers are with the victims of the Paris attacks, because we live those attacks in Syria every day."

Matthew Oakes, a former U.S. Senate candidate, said he organized the rally as a counter-protest to a "Say No To Syrian Refugees Rally."

Though Oakes said the anti-Syrian refugees rally was canceled, a small group still gathered in front of the Capitol to protest the state's plan to take in Syrian refugees. Gov. Dannel Malloy has forcefully defended allowing Syrians to seek political asylum in the U.S., though other state governors have rejected the idea.

Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant

Ghoufram Allabadidi of Berlin, holds her daughter Sena, 5, at a Pro-Syrian refugee rally, "Say YES to Syrian Refugees in Connecticut" held at the capitol in Hartford on Saturday. Allabadidi immigrated to Connecticut from Syria fifteen years ago.

Ghoufram Allabadidi of Berlin, holds her daughter Sena, 5, at a Pro-Syrian refugee rally, "Say YES to Syrian Refugees in Connecticut" held at the capitol in Hartford on Saturday. Allabadidi immigrated to Connecticut from Syria fifteen years ago.

(Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

Ron Berube, of Meriden, was one of about 20 people who planned to march to the Governor's mansion to protest letting refugees into the U.S. as a potential security risk.

"As a veteran and man of common sense, and seeing that Paris was just attacked, we don't feel like it's in the best interest of the state to have undocumented people coming here," he said.

Berube said there is a threat to Americans' safety and those that think otherwise "have their heads in the sand."

"It's not about non-compassion," he said. "It's about our people first."

Larry Winfield, of Clinton, agreed, and said the refugees don't come to America to assimilate to the culture. But he said a person who comes to America legally and "does the correct process" is fine.

At the pro-refugee acceptance rally in the back of the Capitol, Chris George said nothing is more American than welcoming refugees into the country. George is the executive director of New Haven's Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, or IRIS.

So far, IRIS has helped eight families from Syria resettle in the area, he said.

"It's tough to be a refugee in this country," George said. "They need all the help they can get. They need all the friends they can get."

Though many Americans worry about their security, George said refugees go through a two- or three-year screening process and investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Steve Volpini, of Meriden, said the country needs to support Syrian refuges, who are fleeing from the violence of the Islamic State. Volpini is the president of United Action Connecticut, an interfaith, multi-racial organization that advocates for numerous social justice causes.